Transgender woman sets sights on LPGA Tour after winning Florida mini-tour event

Hailey Davidson underwent gender reassignment surgery in January and has undergone hormonal treatment since September 2015.

Matt Chivers's picture
Sat, 15 May 2021
Transgender woman sets sights on LPGA Tour after winning Florida mini-tour event

Transgender golfer Hailey Davidson is setting her sights on the LPGA Tour, after winning a Florida mini-tour event on Thursday.

Davidson holed a short putt on the final hole to secure her first professional victory, beating the LPGA Tour's Perrine Delacour in the process.

On the same day of her win, she received an email from the USGA to tell her that she'd met the organization's Gender Policy eligibility criteria and can now participate in its championships.

Davidson underwent gender reassignment surgery back in January and she has also undergone hormonal treatment since September 2015. 

The 28-year-old works in social media for NBC's Peacock division, but she has a goal of competing on the LPGA Tour in the coming years.

While the USGA have informed Davidson that she has met the eligibility criteria for participation, she is hoping to receive similar correspondence from the LPGA. 

"We are currently reviewing Hailey's application to participate in LPGA Tour events under the LPGA's gender policy," said Heather Daly-Donofrio, the LPGA's chief tour operations officer.

"The policy is designed to be a private and confidential process between the LPGA and the athlete."

The USGA had a rule that a player must have undergone gender reassignment surgery at least two years before competition entry, but this rule was recently removed.

Davidson last competed as a man in 2015 at US Open qualifying at Admiral's Cove in Jupiter, where she lost in a playoff. Earlier this year, she competed in a qualifying event for the Women's US Open, not knowing if she'd be allowed to play if she had earned qualification.

In April, Davidson finished tied sixth at her first professional event for six years, only five shots behind the leader and three behind Paula Creamer. It is clear that Davidson has great potential for a successful career on the LPGA Tour.

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